United States Customhouse and Post Office (Wiscasset, Maine) facts for kids
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U.S. Customhouse (Old Customhouse) and Post Office
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Water Street, Wiscasset, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Alfred B. Mullett |
| Part of | Wiscasset Historic District (ID73000242) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000053 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1970 |
| Designated CP | January 12, 1973 |
The United States Customhouse and Post Office, also known as the Old Customhouse, is a special historic building. It stands at Fore and Water Streets in Wiscasset, Maine. A famous architect named Alfred B. Mullett designed it. The building was constructed between 1869 and 1870. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1970. Since October 2013, it has been a private home.
What is a Customhouse?
A customhouse is a building where government officials work. They collect taxes on goods brought into a country. This helps control what comes in and out. It also makes sure rules about trade are followed. Wiscasset used to be a very busy port.
Exploring the Old Customhouse Building
The old customhouse in Wiscasset is near the historic waterfront. It is a brick building with two and a half stories. It has a sloped roof and a strong granite foundation. The front of the building faces south. It has three sections, with the middle one sticking out a little. This middle section has a low-sloped roof.
A porch covers the main entrance. It has square posts and a flat roof with a balcony. The windows on the first floor are in pairs. They are set in arched openings. The windows on the second floor are also paired. They are set in round-arched openings. A granite band separates the brick walls from the roof's edge.
A Look at Its Long History
Wiscasset had its first customs office in 1791. It was in a small building next to the collector's home. That building was later moved and burned down. The next customhouse was built in the 1790s. It was destroyed in a big fire in Wiscasset in 1866.
The building you see today was designed by Alfred B. Mullett. He was the main architect for the United States Department of the Treasury. William Hogan, a local builder, finished it in 1870. Hogan even used bricks from Fort Edgecomb at first. But the government stopped him. He also used stones from a family cemetery wall.
This building first held both customs and post office services. Wiscasset stopped being a major port in 1913. Parts of the building were used by other government offices. This continued until the 1960s. That's when the post office moved to a new place. After that, the building was sold to private owners. It has been used for different businesses and homes since then.
